SOUTH AFRICA HEAD coach Rassie Erasmus expects an even tougher test from Ireland in the sides’ second clash in Durban next weekend.
He was pleased with his team’s effort in a 27-20 win that featured scores from wing duo Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe, as well as a dominant scrum penalty try late on to seal the victory.
However, Ireland made life difficult for the South Africans, scoring three tries of their own, and Erasmus knows there is more to come next weekend.
“Ireland will work out what we tried to do tonight, and we’re going to try and work out what they did because they also scored three tries,” said Erasmus.
“Just like tonight, they never give up. They’ll try to be more dominant. The guys who came off the bench, when Ringrose came on we were certainly in more challenging defensive situations, not that Bundee or Henshaw are not great players, they run over you.
“Crowley will be more settled in the second Test. They had an injury at hooker and their nine went down, so there were disruptive things in the game but it was certainly not that we didn’t? Until the last minute.
“I thought the Cheslin try was probably the put-away, where we were lucky. But until the last second, we were still nervy about the game. So no, they’re definitely not gonna run away. They’re going to be better next weekend and we will have to really perform.”
This was Erasmus’ first win over Ireland as the Springboks boss, having tasted defeat in 2022 and at last year’s World Cup.
“Since 2018, this is the only team that we had a zero per cent success rate against, including New Zealand and the Lions – they really had our number and tonight they came back so strongly and I think if they didn’t have big injuries, I think the game would have been much tighter.
“We know next weekend – I wouldn’t say it’s a monkey off our back but it’s a really good, competitive team that’s number two and any day can beat you and be number one.”
The Springboks’ win was notable for their new, more expansive approach in attack under Tony Brown, who was previously with Japan.
The Boks tested the Irish defence with their increased width and depth, stringing together nice chains of passes, leading to moments like the superb early Kurt-Lee Arendse.
“I hope people can see we are trying to develop our attacking game,” said Erasmus.
“With that comes mistakes in cohesion and definitely that did happen but they’re not number two for nothing.
“Their defensive system is really sound and when they scored those last two tries we were down to 14 men – it felt like a very stop-start game, injuries – that’s nobody’s fault. For both teams it buggered up momentum.”
Can anyone clear up why the neck roll on Kelleher was ignored but the unintentional leg knocked into the ball by a Bok Counter Rucker was not? Surely Penalty to us if anything ? I thought the TMO was bordering on corrupt he was so bad in general today.
Legend.if the ref did his job would he be tipping his hat to the Irish.
@Papa Kilo: the ref was a joke
@Darren: dusgraceful officiating
@Papa Kilo: no sense complaining about the red when we coughed up two soft tries through our own errors and decisions. When we get our game completely right, then we can talk about the ref.
Listen ,Ringrose is our best 13 and maybe Bundee needs a rest.
@Tom Reilly: Aki was injured last 20mins, but no backs left on bench so had to stay off. May not have been at his attacking best today, but the difference defensively when he doesn’t start at 12 is enormous…
@Tom Reilly: did bundee not get a rest today?
@Sea Point: he was extremely slow in defence today. Awful game. And this punching himself when he messes up is daft
@Tom Reilly: player of the world cup ffs
@Matthew Delaney: he hasnt played for a long time to be fair, first game back since early April
South Africa obviously deserved the win. However, I’d be very positive with that Irish performance. SAF always gonna win, they just couldn’t lose 4 in a row.
SAF scored 3 tries, one they made, 2nd they fluked and 3rd was a penalty try. All legit, but they didn’t create much.
Pollard did leave 8 points out there though..
On the flip side Ireland, defence was really solid, even when they were caught out wide, scored 3 tries from open play, had 2 disallowed, (OG’d SAF’s 2nd) Crowley left 7 point out there.
Great performance, lost by 1 score. Next week will be interesting.
@Derek O'Rourke: …..there was a smell of the first test in New Zealand ’22 about it.
Big injury list this time. Casey, Henshaw, Kelleher, Aki
Ray ridge are you Jim demps in disguise???
@Nzmearse: probably is ,I can’t wait for my subscription to run out,
Haha love how he keeps referring to us an “number two”. It must be tiring to be constantly playing mind games with himself haha
@Beyondthepale: If you’re #2 in the world, and the only team above you is the winner of the last 2 world cups, who have just struggled to beat you on their own patch, then you’re not in a bad place at all.
@James: ah yeah I’m not saying things all doom
And gloom at all.
Probably a better result than expected with JGP, Keenan, Hansen and Conan missing
James Lowe cost us that Test. Pure and simple. Embarrassing. Massive chance wasted.
@Aidan Farrell: How?
@Aidan Farrell: he cost us a try (the final one). The other one he was doing what you are supposed to do, there should have been someone there to collect the ball he kept in. Kolbe being there to get it is Kolbe doing Kolbe things.
And seeing how James Lowe made a try for us, your comment I would guess is more about your dislike for James Lowe than it is about facts.
@Robert McGee: Well, he is a Kiwi so had the most skills and tried his best.
@Robert McGee: if he couldn’t see there was no green player there, why did he do that? Madness.
@Aidan Farrell: he actually kept us in the game with an unreal try and an even more unreal assist for Osborne. Not many in the world could have done that.
@Oliveraie de Paravieille: because we were desperate for possession at that stage in the game
@Aidan Farrell: if his try wasn’t chalked off unfairly you’d be licking his boots. Have a word with yourself
Kwagga Smith should have got a red card for this hit on Obsourne as he scored. No attempt to tackle and smashed Osbournes head / neck with his elbow. Dirty play (from a great player) but should 100% have been a red.
@Seaán O’C: thought that too. Wonder why nobody picked up on it. Ne interesting to see if the look at that on the Pod this week. Lots of late/cheap shots in the game!
@Seaán O’C: totally agree. I bet if Osbourne stayed down, theyd had to have looked at it. Given that TMO was very eagle eyed for disallowed try it seems very very one eyed by him. Neck roll on Kelleher was an absolute joke
Ray Ridge are you sure your Irish , you sound like an English troll
@Phillip Keohane: I just think England are number 2 in the world. They were within a dodgy refereeing call from beating the reigning world champions in the world Cup semi final. Whereas we failed in a quarter yet again. Your reading too much into it Phil.
@Ray Ridge: lol didnt england lose today how can they go to number 2 lol ireland lost 3 in 24 games far far better than england you sure you not from mars
@Ray Ridge: nonsense…as usual. We were two dodgy calls away from beating the world champions today if you’re going down that road. We must be number 1 so
Great cross by guler
Power rankings after today
1. South Africa
2. England
3. France
4. New Zealand
5. Ireland
6. Australia
7. Scotland
8. Argentina
9. Wales
@Ray Ridge: what a daft comment, nothing can’t be decided just based on today games. England were good but NZ average. They are not on Ireland or particularly SA level
@Ray Ridge: really?
@Brian Moran: it’s not based on today’s games only. It’s based on performances over the past 12-18 months. Taking World Cup into account obviously, as it’s the main one.
@Ray Ridge: You are a parody poster. A few lads on a rota taking the mick.
@Ray Ridge: for heavens sake Raymond
@Tom Reilly: he an attention seeker
@Ray Ridge: Are these the official rankings or your made up ones?
@Ray Ridge: jeez you’re such a strange person. Apparently, you’re from Galway and always betting against them. And apparently, you’re from Ireland and always knocking them and hyping up England. England can do no wrong in your eyes, yet Ireland do everything wrong. Very very strange.
@Kevin Dillon: why does anyone answer this balloon. Just mute him.
@Ray Ridge: he loves the fishing bait attention
@Ray Ridge: oh lord god almighty…how can Ireland be 5 places off South Africa after they only losing by a converted try in South Africa to a full strength saffies whilst missing key players themselves…not to mention some very suspicious tmo behaviour. England and All Blacks produced a dour game with both playing average. France haven’t beaten Ireland in 3 years. Again another Ray Ridge special where he’s completely wrong
@Beyondthepale: is it a case of POM being the only credible leader among the 4 provinces ? Love Beirne not sure is he captain material .. similarly think Dorris is phenomenal but leadership is questionable.. think Tom ahern if fit or moving gav Coombes or Brian gleeson to 6 is the best solution for munster/ireland
@Darragh O’Brien: Munster’s and Ireland’s solutions diverge at 6. Baird and Izuchukwu would appear the leading options in the latter case.
We scored four tries Rassie as you well know